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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejoins Democratic Socialists of America after membership lapse

The New York representative renewed her national membership following a seven-year lapse and amid discussions of a potential 2028 presidential campaign.

The short version

  • Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her national membership with the Democratic Socialists of America in August 2026 after her original one-year membership lapsed in 2019.
  • The DSA released a statement on her status as local chapters and members discuss efforts to draft her for a potential 2028 presidential primary campaign.
  • The renewal comes after the DSA previously withdrew its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez in July 2024 over policy disagreements related to Israel and antisemitism resolutions.

Key facts

  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez renewed her national DSA membership in August 2026 after joining in 2018 with a one-year membership that expired in 2019.[The Guardian]
  • The DSA publicly confirmed she is a member in good standing to provide clarity to members deliberating potential 2028 presidential draft campaigns.[The Guardian]
  • In July 2024, the national DSA withdrew its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez following her vote on a House resolution regarding antisemitism and her participation in a panel hosted with Jewish public affairs leaders.[The Guardian]
  • Ocasio-Cortez previously stated in an interview that she maintained membership in the local New York City chapter even while her national membership was lapsed.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unconfirmed whether Ocasio-Cortez intends to launch a 2028 presidential bid.[The Guardian]

Sources